Awakenings from Then ’til Now allows you to Embrace Your Past, Empower the Present, Enrich Your Future.

Welcome to Awakenings

Life IS history in the making. Every word we say, everything we do becomes history the moment it is said or done. Life void of memories leaves nothing but emptiness. For those who might consider history boring, think again: It is who we are, what we do and why we are here. We are certainly individuals in our thoughts and deeds but we all germinated from seeds planted long, long ago.

Monday, June 30, 2014

Note: If the music videos are not visible, go to updated post on June 30, 2016. Put the title in the search box.Today in Music History: June 30

Music of the day, any day can mesmerize, energize and synergize. It can be the slowest of songs, the fastest of songs and anything in between. It is you, it is me, it is us. Accompanying the songs are the memories, remembering the best of times, the worst of times and everything in between.

Songfacts:The novelty song "Come Outside" topped the UK singles chart for Mike
Sarne in 1962; written by producer/composer Charles Blackwell, released
on Parlophone and backed by "Fountain Of Love", it knocked Elvis off the
#1 spot and stayed in the charts for a respectable nineteen weeks. The
song is a duet of sorts between Sarne and a then youthful Wendy Richard,
who didn't sing but played the would-be girlfriend/conquest who Sarne
kept asking her to come outside to see the lovely moon (among other
things). Richard's replies including "What for?" were delivered in a
broad Cockney accent by the Middlesbrough-born actress who trained at
the same academy as Noël Coward.

1973George Harrison knocked Paul McCartney from the top of the US
singles chart with 'Give Me Love, Give Me Peace On Earth'. His second US
No.1, a No.8 hit in the UK was the opening track on his 1973 album
Living in the Material World.

Songfacts:Harrison (from his autobiography I Me Mine): "Sometimes you open
your mouth and you don't know what you are going to say, and whatever
comes out is the starting point. If that happens and you are lucky, it
can usually be turned into a song. This song is a prayer and personal
statement between me, the Lord, and whoever likes it."

1973Slade were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Skweeze Me Pleeze Me', the group's fifth UK No.1 and second single to enter the chart at
No.1.

They
say every living person on the planet is here for a reason — and if
your reason just happens to be adding your name to that much discussed
list of one-hit wonders, then so be it. I just had a look on Wikipedia
and have to say their description is a little harsh: "A one-hit wonder
is a person or act known mainly for only a single success." Well, I can
think of worse ways to earn a living.

And like everything in life, some one-hit wonders are better than
others. In this modern age, we don’t even notice one-hit wonders; we
don’t really pay close attention to the charts anymore. What’s at No.1
this week? Anybody know?

Back to Today in Music History:

1979Tubeway Army started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK singles
chart with 'Are 'Friends' Electric'. The song by Gary Numan was the
first electronic/synthesizer-based record to become a hit in the
post-punk era.

1990New Kids On The Block started a three week run at No.1 on the US
singles chart with 'Step By Step'. The group's third US No.1, a No.2 hit
in the UK. Their album 'Step By Step' also went to No.1 on the UK album
chart today.

2001American guitarist and producer Chet Atkins died in Nashville aged
77. Recorded over 100 albums during his career, produced records for
Perry Como, Elvis Presley, Don Gibson, Jim Reeves and Waylon Jennings.
Was a major influence on George Harrison and Mark Knopfler.

With more than 35 million copies of his 75-plus original releases sold, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner Chet Atkins
was one of the most successful guitarists in history; as a country
music producer, he was largely responsible for the pop-oriented
"Nashville Sound" of the '60s. Read MORE...

Only a few days ago, history focused on June 27, 1939 when one of the most famous scenes in movie history is filmed. This scene contained a curse word, 'damn', which miraculously, considering the times, passed the firm censors. It was only three years earlier almost to the day when the story that inspired the film is published...finally.

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell was rejected by 38 publishers before making it to the printing presses. The book won Mitchell the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1937. Even with such acclamation it has been dubbed offensive and vulgar by some even to the point of being banned. The scandalous language with bold characterizations met disapproval yet went on to become a bestselling literary classic.

In her own words, Margaret Mitchell wrote...

If Gone With the Wind
has a theme it is that of survival. What makes some people come through
catastrophes and others, apparently just as able, strong, and brave, go
under? It happens in every upheaval. Some people survive; others don't.
What qualities are in those who fight their way through triumphantly
that are lacking in those that go under? I only know that survivors used
to call that quality 'gumption.' So I wrote about people who had
gumption and people who didn't."

NOTE: There are many "first" types of books out there but ... a true, true first edition of "Gone With
the Wind" was published in May of 1936 by The Macmillan Company. Many
people are not aware that only 10,000 copies of the true first were
printed.A Lesson Learned...

To all writers who have, or possibly will, receive rejections, take a lesson from some of the greatest writers of all time. Publishers sometimes just get it wrong...miss the point, thus, lose out all the way around. A rejection should not mean giving up but instead moving on. Just as Scarlett O'Hara faced a life without Rhett Butler, tomorrow is another day!

In 2013, Awakenings featured a countdown to the 4th of July. Each day featured special tributes to America in recognition and honor of her independence: July 4, 1776. With yet another year having passed, it is again time for celebration. Let us not forget those who have fought or are fighting for our nation; they are the epitome of the human spirit called freedom!

The patriotic songGod Bless America has become an iconic symbol of the United States of America originally written in 1918 by Irving Berlin while he was serving the US Army at Camp Upton in Yaphank, New York. In 1938, with the rise of Adolf Hitler, Irving Berlin, who was
Jewish and a first-generation European immigrant, felt it was time to revive it
as a "peace song," and it was introduced on an Armistice Day
broadcast in 1938, sung by Kate Smith on her radio show.

.

Listen to the original FIRST broadcast radio performance of "God Bless America" sung by Kate Smith.

A strong-willed people from very diverse
backgrounds crossed treacherous waters, enduring hardships unimaginable to us
today. Hope, faith, and courage remained resolute even in the face of
serendipitous challenges.

*****

Sunday, June 29, 2014

How interesting to learn something new about the music of yesterdays...the songs, the artists, the times. So often we listen to the songs but don't take note of what's behind the melody. Each song has a story, each recording artist a biography, each musical era a sign of the changing times. Yesterday's gone but not the memories! From nostalgic times to modern times, emotions are preserved in music while alterations in rhythm often produce variances from the simplest to the most complex.

1994Oasis made their debut on BBC TV's 'Top Of The Pops' performing their new single 'Shakermaker'. The song bears a strong resemblance to the 1971 New Seekers song 'I'd Like
To Teach The World To Sing', which was featured in a famous Coke
commercial where children gather on a hilltop to sing. Noel Gallagher
cited "irony" as his defense and after losing, joked, "Now we all drink
Pepsi."

2003 Singer Beyoncé started a five week run at No.1 on
the UK album chart with 'Dangerously In Love', also a US No.1. Beyoncé rose to fame as the lead singer of Destiny's Child.
She released her first solo album a year before the group disbanded. In
addition to her music career, she has appeared in several movies,
including Austin Powers in Goldmember, The Pink Panther and Dreamgirls.

2008Ne-Yo was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Closer' the American R&B artists second No.1. Ne-Yo explained the inspiration behind this track to The Boston Globe
September 18, 2008: "I knew I wanted to do something that was very much
U.K.-inspired, very much along the lines of house, trance, techno, but I
knew I couldn't do a straight-up house record or a straight-up techno
record. I had to do something that had elements of it but still had
elements of R&B, which is my base, and that's exactly what that
track was. (Stargate) played the track, and it was exactly where I
wanted to go, anyway. I think that's why we work. We're getting to the
point where we finish each other's sentences musically."

In the last post, I told you there was more to celebrate today so here it is!

June 29 is...believe it or not,

Ah-h-h-h, the waffle iron, probably at one time the most used and now possibly the least used kitchen appliance you own. Why the change? If you have kids, it is the call of the day for breakfast. If not, it could be one of your own favs you simply never outgrew. The flip side of the coin could be just the opposite or weight watching has kept you away from the waffle menu item.

A Bit of Waffle Iron History...

Waffle
Irons were first found in an area of Northwestern Europe known as the
Low Countries around the 14th century, which includes Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as
other places. Originally they were made to be used over an open flame,
and were thus constructed on the end of two long, typically wooden,
handles with a clamshell system at one end, which would be held over a
fire to bake.

Stroopwafels

The use of waffle irons goes back to more than just the renown simple breakfast food. Gouda in the Netherlands is the home of a delicious
cookie type treat known as a ‘stroopwafel’. Developed by Gerard
Kamphuisen, this sweet syrup filled confection became quite popular,
leading to a boom where up to 100 stroopwafel makers were to be found in
the city. The stroopwafel has since become quite popular around the
world.

One of the most popular uses of waffles came about
seemingly by accident, allegedly created by George Bang in 1904. He had
run out of bowls to give out with his Banner Creamery Ice Cream, and
started giving out rolled up waffles to use instead. It’s alleged
because there are other origin stories as well, including a Belgium gent
from Ghent, who moved to Norfolk, Virginia, and decided that a rolled
up Waffle was the perfect place to put a scoop of ice-cream!

While waffle irons are made for waffles - multi-waffle irons
that make more than one at a time, round ones, Belgian waffle-makers
with their deep squares and thick waffles begging to be topped with
strawberries and cream - they are NOT just for the delicious breakfast staple, waffles, any more! Waffle Iron Day is a GREAT opportunity to experiment with different options. Get creative!

Don't own a waffle iron? This is the day to add a new gadget to your kitchen repertoire. There are shapes available from Mickey Mouse to the state of Texas. And, you don't have to limit it's use to breakfast either. Make an entire menu from waffles, spanning breakfast to dinner and everything in between. Ever tried baking a pizza (or even thought about it for that matter) in a waffle iron?

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About Me

Sharla is a graduate of Troy State University and an educator with a flair for writing in poetic verse. Her latest book, Awakenings from Then ’til Now is available from Tate Publishing. It is dedicated to those who laid the foundation and established the platform for our American freedom: those who have served in the past, presently serve, or will serve our military forces in the future. A profound appreciation is extended for the sacrifice of these brave men and women who left or will leave their homes and family to ensure America’s freedom endures.

A grave price is being paid every moment of every day of the year for all the freedom America has to offer. Let us not forget those who have fought or are fighting for our nation; they are the epitome of the human spirit called freedom!